# Reference Check

> Run founder reference checks that surface real signal, not just polished praise.

- Skill: `tinyhumansai/reference-check` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add tinyhumansai/reference-check`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/tinyhumansai/reference-check/raw
- Safety review: pending (external: skill-scanner PASS, skillspector PASS)
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: tinyhumansai (https://skillmd.com/u/tinyhumansai)
- Updated: 2026-09-22
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/tinyhumansai/reference-check

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# Reference Check

Talk to the people who have worked with a founder and get past the rehearsed
praise to the real signal.

## When to use

- A deal is deep in diligence and the team is the bet.
- A founder's story needs corroboration from others.

## Steps

1. **Choose** references beyond the founder's hand-picked list.
2. **Ask** behavioral questions about real situations, not traits.
3. **Probe** gently on weaknesses — how they show up, not whether.
4. **Corroborate** the founder's own account of key events.
5. **Weigh** the pattern across references, not any single voice.

## Output

A reference summary: the consistent signals, the concerns, and how they bear on
the [[Investment thesis]]. Feeds the memo the operator decides on.